The Final Season of 'Derry Girls' Will Arrive on Netflix In October
Derry Girls, the popular Irish comedy about a misfit girl gang and their adventures growing up in a time of Irish political and social upheaval, is sadly coming to an end with its third season. But, since the show's conclusion is a planned one, the comedy is at least getting the chance to go out on its own terms as the titular girls themselves prepare to graduate and enter the real world, which is rapidly changing around them.
Set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s, the series follows the misadventures of a squad of ill-mannered teen girls as they navigate typical coming of age adventures against the backdrop of life during The Troubles, the colloquial name for the three-decades-long conflict that raged between nationalists (mainly self-identified as Irish or Roman Catholic) and unionists (mainly self-identified as British or Protestant) and often resulted in bombings and other acts of terrorism.
It's been two years since Season 2 of the show premiered in the U.S. thanks in large part to—what else—pandemic-related shutdowns and production delays. Filming on the final season started in mid-2021 and wrapped just before Christmas of that year. The final season aired earlier this spring on U.K. network Channel 4, and will finally come to Netflix this October for one last bighearted (and presumably extremely awkward) hurrah.
Netflix announced the premiere date of the third and final season via Twitter.
It's going to be so hard to say goodbye...
— Netflix (@netflix) August 31, 2022
The final season of our beloved Derry Girls arrives October 7 on Netflix (outside The UK & Ireland). pic.twitter.com/GiaZ6Rm1yR
The gang's all back for the final season, including Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Erin, Louisa Harland as her cousin Orla, Nicola Coughlan and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell as her BFFs Clare and Michelle, and Dylan Llewellyn as James, Michelle's tag-along English cousin (and honorary Derry Girl.) Other returning faces include Tommy Tiernan (Gerry), Tara Lynne O'Neill (Mary), Ian McElhinney (Granda Joe), Kathy Kiera Clarke (Aunt Sarah), and Siobhan McSweeney (Sister Michael).
“Derry Girls is a coming of age story following five ridiculous teenagers as they slowly… very slowly… start to become adults, while around them the place they call home starts to change too and Northern Ireland enters a new more hopeful phase - which was a small, magical window of time," series creator Lisa McGee said in her statement when the series' final season was announced. "Derry Girls is a love letter to the place I come from and the people who shaped me. It has been an honor to write it and I will be forever proud of everything it's achieved."
The Season 3 synopsis is brief but indicates the big changes that are coming to Derry, whether the girls are ready for them or not.
Change may finally be coming to Northern Ireland. But the high school hardships of Erin and her friends show no signs of letting up.
The final season of Derry Girls will premiere on Friday, October 7. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now.
